Kinoite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Kinoite was named for Italian Jesuit missionary Fr. Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711), pioneer/explorer of the Sonora-Arizona-California frontier.

Discovered in 1969; IMA status: Valid (IMA approved 1970)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Ca₂Cu₂Si₃O₈(OH)₄  or  Ca₂Cu₂Si₃O₁₀ • 2H₂O

Calcium Copper Silicate Hydroxide   or  Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate

Molecular Weight:

487.53 gm

Composition:

Calcium

16.44 %

Ca

23.00 %

CaO

Copper

26.07 %

Cu

32.63 %

CuO

Silicon

17.28 %

Si

36.97 %

SiO₂

Hydrogen

0.83 %

H

7.39 %

H₂O

Oxygen

39.38 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/C.31-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.BH.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
H : Sorosilicates with Si₃O₁₀, Si₄O₁₁, etc. anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination

Related to:

None

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

IMA1969-037

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As well-formed crystals, to 1.5 mm, tabular on [100], somewhat elongated along [001]; also in veinlets, massive.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Excellent on {010}; distinct on {100} and {001}

Fracture:

n/a

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0 - 5.0

Density:

3.13 - 3.19 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Not Fluorescent

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Light to deep azure-blue

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.638 - 1.676  Biaxial ( - ) 

Birefringence:

0.038

Dispersion:

Distinct to relatively weak; r < v

Pleochroism:

Strong; X = pale greenish blue; Y = blue; Z = deep blue

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In vugs and veinlets in skarn (Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA); in amygdules in basaltic lava flows (Calumet, Michigan, USA).

Common Associations:

Apophyllite, Copper (Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA); Quartz, Calcite, Copper, Silver, Epidote, Pumpellyite, Chlorite (Calumet, Michigan, USA).

Common Impurities:

Mg

Type Locality:

Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, Arizona, USA

Year Discovered:

1969; IMA approved 1970

View mineral photos:

Kinoite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Kinoite is a fairly rare copper mineral that is found in only a few localities around the world. Some of the best specimens come from the Christmas mine in Gila County, Arizona. It is often associated and coated with small crystals of Apophyllite which can give a specimen a very nice sparkle. Cyrstals are very small, usually only about 1.5 mm, so the only gems available are druzy style cabochons. Massive examples of Kinoite may be a lighter blue color while minute, individual crystals may be a darker color similar to Azurite or Linarite. Kinoite is also found as very small rosette crystals that may be similar in appearance to clusters of Cavansite. Kinoite is also strongly pleochroic showing colors from pale blue or pale greenish blue to deep blue.

Distribution: In the USA, in Arizona, between Helvetia and Rosemont, Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, and in the Christmas copper mine, Gila County; in the Bawana mine, about six km northwest of Milford, Beaver County, Utah; and in Michigan, in the Laurium and La Salle mines, Calumet, Houghton County and at the Northwestern mine, Keweenaw County. In Japan in the Fuka mine, Bitchu-cho (Bicchu-cho), Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, Chugoku Region, Honshu Island.
 

  
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